“23Policy on partnerships with private sector

Any information about the partnership with the private sector should be subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.”

Clause 29

To omit this clause.

Clause 31

To omit this clause and substitute the following:

“136Contracts relating to the provision of water services

Despite section 130(2), a local government organization may enter into contracts for any aspect of the operation of all or part of a water service for a term not longer than 15 years.”

Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper amends the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill as follows:

Clause 5: The bill does not take into account the role of environmental protection that local bodies traditionally hold. Councils and territorial authorities are the best organisations to maintain the environment in their area because of local knowledge and protection of the economy. Social development is also not addressed by the current bill. Councils and territorial authorities currently play a large part in the social development of their areas. This amendment would reflect the reality of this

Clause 6: The bill does not adequately reflect the central role of the environment in local bodies risk assessment. This amendment would ensure that the environmental impacts of their actions are taken into account

Clause 8: The omission of this clause would mean that community views are retained in the decisions of local bodies

Clause 23: Public Private Partnerships are a way for local bodies to off load services and infrastructure to private companies. The citizens of local bodies who enter into private public partnerships take a risk with this, in that once responsibility for services or infrastructure transfers to private providers there is no obligation to provide information. This amendment would allow for transparency around business deals done in public private partnerships

Clause 29: The omission of this clause would mean local bodies retain assessment powers for water services provided in their area

Clause 31: Thirty-five years is a long time for a private company to retain control over water services. This amendment reduces the maximum time a private company can be contracted to provide water services to 15 years.